Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned there will be a 10% reduction in air travel capacity at 40 major airports in the US starting Friday morning, if the government shutdown continues.
The decision was made because air traffic controllers have been reporting issues with fatigue, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said at a briefing with Duffy on Wednesday.
It is unusual, just as the shutdown is unusual, just as the fact that our controllers haven't been paid for a month is unusual, said FAA chief Bryan Bedford.
During the shutdown, now the longest in US history, controllers have had to keep working without pay, prompting some to call out sick or take side jobs.
The flight reductions will be gradual, starting at 4% of domestic flights on Friday, then rising to 5% on Saturday and 6% on Sunday, before hitting the full 10% next week. The names of the affected airports - all high-traffic locations - will be released on Thursday, the officials said.
The cancellations could affect between 3,500 and 4,000 flights per day.
We are seeing pressures build in a way that we don't feel - if we allow it to go unchecked - will allow us to continue to tell the public that we operate the safest airline system in the world, Bedford noted.
Duffy stated that air travel remains safe, and the decision to cancel flights hinges on maintaining safety and efficiency. If the shutdown continues, Bedford hinted that additional restrictive measures may follow.
In light of these developments, a spokesperson for Southwest Airlines mentioned they are evaluating how these flight restrictions will impact their services.
We continue to urge Congress to immediately resolve its impasse and restore the National Airspace System to its full capacity, the spokesperson added.
Since the shutdown began on October 1, federal workers deemed essential, like controllers, have been required to continue their duties without pay, leading to increasing stress and unpredictability in staffing.
Air traffic controllers are texting 'I don't even have enough money to put gas in my car to come to work,' highlighted Nick Daniels, the president of the labor union representing more than 20,000 aviation workers. Right now there is no predictability.
Duffy previously warned that flight cancellations may be imminent, with half of the US's 30 major airports experiencing staffing shortages. He emphasized the risk associated with controllers picking up additional jobs during the shutdown, leading to potential disciplinary actions against those who do not report to work.
